Ship of Theseus is best film

''Ship of Theseus'', a debut of 34-year old Anand Gandhi, was declared best feature film and Bollywood’s Farhan Akhtar-starrer ''Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'' the best popular film providing wholesome entertainment as an 11-member jury announced the National Film Awards for 2013 here on Wednesday.

Directed by Gandhi and produced by Recyclewala Films Pvt Ltd, “Ship of Theseus” explores questions of identity, justice, beauty, meaning and death through the stories of an experimental photographer, an ailing monk and an enterprising stockbroker. The director and producer of the film will get Swarna Kamal award and Rs 2.5 lakh each.

Blockbuster “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag,” a sports drama, is based on the life of athlete Milkha Singh. Producers Viacom 18 Motion Pictures and ROMP Pictures as well as director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra will be honoured for retaining the story and values of a great sportsman and translating it into the cinematic medium with aplomb. Ganesh Acharya won the award for best choreography for the same film.

An 11-member jury, headed by noted director Saeed Akhtar Mirza, announced the awards that are likely to be conferred by President Pranab Mukherjee on May 3 along with the Dada Saheb Phalke award on lyricist-director Gulzar.

Best director

The jury of the awards named Hansal Mehta the best director for his film “Shahid”, which traces the true story of slain human right activist and lawyer Shahid Azmi in the backdrop of communal violence in Mumbai. He will get a Swarna Kamal and Rs 2.5 lakh in cash. The film’s lead actor Rajkummar Rao was declared the best actor. He will share the award with Suraj Venjaramoodu, who, too, was named best actor for his role in Malayalam film “Perariyathavar”. The two actors, who will share the cash prize of Rs 50,000, will get Rajat Kamal.

Geetanjali Thapa, a model based in Kolkata, was declared best actress for her role in Hindi film, “Liar’s dice”, directed by Geethu Mohandasa. She will receive a Rajat Kamal and Rs 50,000 in cash.

Hindi movie “Kaphal” bagged the best children’s film. A Swarna Kamal and Rs 1.5 lakh in cash each will go to its producer Children’s Film Society of India and director Batul Mukhtiar.

Saurabh Shukla got the best supporting actor for his “heart-warming and exuberant performance” as a judge in the court-room drama “Jolly LLB”, which was declared best Hindi film.  The best supporting actress award will be shared by Amruta Subhas and Aida El-Kashef for their role in “Astu” (Marathi) and “Ship of Theseus”.

Indira Gandhi Award for best debut film went to director Nagraj Manjule for his critically acclaimed Marathi film “Fandry” while Balu Mahendra-directed Tamil movie “Thalaimuraigal” bagged Nargis Dutt Award for best feature film on National Integration.

Marathi film “Tuhya Dharma Koncha” bagged the national award for being the best film on social issues. Bengali film “Jaatishwar” won the best male playback singer award for the song “E Tumi Kemon Tumi” by Rupankar while in the female category, Bela Shende won the award for the song “Khura Kura” from Marathi film “Tuhya Dharma Koncha”.

Somnath Avghade of “Fandry” and Sadhana of Tamil film “Thanga Meengal” shared the best child artiste award.

In the best music direction category, begali film “Jaatishwar” won for the song while Tamil film “Na Bangaaru Talli” was named in the best background score. “Jal” won for special effects.

John Abraham-produced political thriller “Madras Cafe” won the award for location Sound Recordist and Sound design while Malayalam film “Swapaanam” won best re-recordist of the final mixed track award.